CLINTON, Md. - Five Delaware State University softball players recorded at least four hits Saturday afternoon as the Hornets defeated Howard University, 14-6 and 12-3, at Cosco Field in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.

The Hornets outhit the Bison, 33-16, and outscored them, 26-9.

DSU (21-16-1; 11-3 MEAC) was led at the plate by senior Jordan Reid (Accokeek, Md.), who went 6-for-7 with five runs, three RBI, three stolen bases, a double and walk in the two games. Fellow senior Casey Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.) was 5-for-8 on the day with four runs and three RBI while freshman Bria Green (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) and sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) each went 4-for-7. Green finished with three runs scored, four RBI, two stolen bases and two walks while Martello posted four runs, four RBI and a home run.

Senior Breanne Parr (Camarillo, Calif.) knocked in two doubles and a home run to finish the day 4-for-8 with three runs and two RBI.

Up 1-0 going into the second inning, the Hornets had their biggest stanza of the day, posting six runs on five hits and one HU error to take the 7-0 lead.

DSU played small ball in the top of the third, scoring two more runs on four singles, a walk and stolen base.

Howard (9-31; 7-10 MEAC) got in on the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits. The Hornets prevented too much damage however as three runners were left stranded as senior Lorae Robinson grounded out to DSU sophomore pitcher Ashlyn Campbell (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) to end the inning.

Del State added two more in the sixth and three more in the seventh to take the 14-4 lead. The Bison wouldn't go away without a fight though as Robinson led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single and Dominique Lawrence followed with a home run to come within 14-6. Green came in to pitch for sophomore Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.) and wrapped up the game to give the Hornets the game one victory.

The offense didn't falter in game two, as Delaware State took the 12-3 mercy-rule victory in five innings.

With Green on third, Parr smashed a two-out bomb to right field to ignite the offense in the first inning. DSU added three more in the second before junior Skye Boris (Magnolia, Del.) knocked a two-run homer in the third to go up, 7-0.

The Bison put up three runs in the bottom of the frame, but that is all the offense Howard would see in game two.

The Hornets posted their biggest inning of the game in the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits. Reid led off the inning with a double up the middle and advanced to third on a wild pitch as Martello walked. Parr then walked to load the bases before senior Tawny Reeger (Simi Valley, Calif.) knocked her second double of the day to score two runs. Beighley followed with a two-RBI single through the right side to give DSU an 11-3 advantage. Once again with the bases loaded, Reid was hit by a pitch to score another Hornet run.

Del State held the Bison to just one hit in the final two frames.

The Hornets look to sweep Howard as they wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.